Machine for grooving agates and similar stones



o. c. REEVES.

MACHINE FOR GROOVING AGATES AND SIMILAR STONES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13. 1917. 1379,04 4, Patenwd May 24,1921.

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0. c. REEVES.

MACHINE FOR GROOVI NG AGATES AND SIMILAR STONES.

APPLICATION FILED 001.13. 1911.

3379,0 14, I Patented May 24,-1921.

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"Hm-1mm HM mmmlmllllmlllllmlml 0. c, REEVES. v MACHINE FOR- GROOVING AGATES AND SIMILAR STONES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 13, 19H.

Patented May 24, 1921.

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APPLICATION FILED QCT-13, 19H- 11,379,044. Patented May 24,1921.

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MACHINE FOR snoovme AGATES AND SIMILAR STONESL APPLICATION FILED OCT-13, 19H- L 95 IT E 4 4 8 Wu MM 8 d5 m m P e m M w 0 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORWELL C. REEVES, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO 'ITOLEDO SCALE COMPANY, OF

TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORJZORATION NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR GROOVING. AGATES AND SIMILAR STONES.-

To all w 7mm it may concern Be it known that I, OnWnLL C. REEVES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Machines for Grooving Agates and Similar Stones, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for cutting and grooving material of compart tive hardness, and more particularly to machines for the grooving of precious and semi-precious stones.

In certain of the mechanical arts, such as those relating to the development of the scale, horological and scientific instrument industries. it has been found necessary to use pivots, bearings and the like of very hard material, such as agate and other precious or semi-precious stones. Heretofore it has been the custom to import such agate bearings, etc., in great quantities from foreign countries, where the labor employed in cut-.

ting and shaping these stones by successive hand operations did not greatly affect the cost thereof. The difliculty experienced in providing a machine for grooving hard stones, such as agate, bears mainly on'the cooperation of suitable cutting and holding members adapted to groove the stones in regular lines and in a sufficient number to allow the production ofthe agate bearings and pivots in considerable quantities.

The present invention provides an agate grooving machine adapted to simultaneously groove a number of jewel bearings of predetermined sizes and dimensions from blocks :of agate or similar hard stones. Means are also provided for varying at will the number of jewel bearings to be so grooved, and for regulating the depth and lateral extent of the grooves. Preferably this machine is used for rough grinding the V-shaped grooves in agate bearings for weighing scales, the grooves being then finished in a finishing machine described in a. companion application filed herewith, but it will be understood that such finishing machine is not essential in all instances and the complete grooving operation may be performed on the machine-herein described.

Other objects and advantages will be ap-' parent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying draw- *5; mgs which are illustrat ve of one embod Specification of Letters Patent. P t t 11 72 1921 Application filed October 13, 1917. Serial No. 196,429. 7

ment of my invention and wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views. In the drawings Figure lis a side view of my improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof with parts out out to show the interior mecha- Y nism;

Fig. 3 1s a plan view, wlth the cover of the abrasive fluid container removed;

. Fig. 4' is a central section through the agate-holding disk; V

Fig. 5 is a. similar view of the rotatable cutting disk; V Fig. 6 is a fragmental plan view of the agate holding disk;

,Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view through the rim of said disln showing the method of securing the agates in the removable segments; and v Fig. 8 is a plan View of one of the agateholding segments.

Referring more specifically to the drawings,-the numeral 1 designates a bracket adapted to be fixed to the side wall or post and provided with bearings 2 for rotatably supporting a vertically-disposed shaft 3, while a movable bracket arm 4 is pivotally mounted uponv the bracket and is provided with bearings 5 for rotatably supporting a vertically-disposed shaft 6. Each of the shafts Sand 6 has fixed thereto a pulley 7 and 8 respectively, while a pulley 9 loosely mounted on a shaft 10 in vertical alinement with the" pivotal connection between the two bracket arms 1 and '4: is resiliently connected to a pulley 11 in horizontal aline- ;ment with the pulley 9. Abelt 12 is passed around these pulleys so as to cause the shafts .3 and 6 to rotate in the same directions when power from some external source is: applied; Fixedly mounted upon the lower endof the shaft 6 is a horizontallydisposed disk 13 provided with a removable ring 14 carrying a cutting ring 14 of soft steel or like material having a V-shaped peripheral: edge. Suitable fastening means,

' as the bolts 14*, may be usedto secure the channel with a plurality of spacedrecesses 18 communicating at one end with a circumferentially-extending groove 19 whereby the several agates maybe positioned in the segments and temporarily clamped therein by set screws 20 or the like, one agate over each recess 18. Cement is then poured in the communicating groo o if) and permitted to fill the recesses 18 and the inter stices between the agates up to a desired height, substantially as shown in Fig. 7. The several segments 17 are then Secured in the channel 16 of the holding disk 15 by any desired means, such as bolts or set screws. The construction of the disk 15 is substantially the same as that of the cutting disk 13, and comprises oppositely-disposed clamping disk 15 securing between them the agate-holding ring 16 and being secured in fixed position by means of the lock nuts 15 (see Fig. 4). V t

Mounted below the bracket 1 is a bracket- 21 also adapted to be secured to the side wall. or post and formed with bearings 22 adapted to receive supporting shafts 23 for a tank or similar container 24 for an abrasive solution. Any suitable solution may be utilized for this purpose, but it has been found in practice that a mixture of carborundum and emery powder maintained in a slightly viscous fluid condition is quite eflicient for this purpose, and is preferred. Suitable mechanism for raising and lowering the tank 24: into and out of position for cooperating with the cutting and agate-holding disks is provided, one form as herein shown being to provide on the supporting shafts 23 rack faces 25 meshing with pinions 26 on a crossshaft 27 (see Figs. 1 and 2). 'i iuitable means, as a handle 27 is provided for raising or lowering the tank as desired, and the shafts 23 are locked in any desired position by suitable means, as, for example, the pawls 528. A cover 29 for the tank 24 18 preferably provided to prevent the splashing of the abrasive solution during the grooving operation.

The swinging bracket arm 4 carrying the shaft 6 supporting the cutting disk is held under pressure against the agates or like material in the holding disk bymeans of a pendent weight 30 carried at one end of a chain or similar flexible member 31' which passes over suitable pulleys and has its opposite end secured to the bracketarm a. Thus, despite the depth of the groove 1n the agates,

the cutting disk is maintained in operative contact with the material to be cut. As the cket arm 4: swings, the belt 12 is maintained taut through the travel of the pulley 11 under pull of the spring 11. The bracket'in which the pulley 11 is mounted is preferably guided in its movement by spaced pins 11' telescoping within sleeves 11 upon the bracket carrying the pulley 9; By providing suitable spacers 11 upon the pins 11 the extent of travel of the pulley 11 may be controlled at will, thereby allowing the belt 12.110 become loose so that turning movement the disks 13 and 15 ceases after they have moved to within a predetermined distance of each other. Thus the depths of the grooves inthe agates or similar materials may be controlled. it will be understood, however, that other means may be provided for rogu lating the depth of the cut.

The operation of my improved machine is obvious from the description. The agates or similar material to be out are secured within the segments 17 which in turn are fixed within the channeled ring 16 of the holding disk, and the tank 24 containing the abrasive solution is then elevated so that both the cutting andholding disks are immersed therein. Power is then applied to rotate the pulley 9 and. the shafts 3 and 6. The rotation of the disks on the shafts 3 and (3 carry the particles of emery, carborundum, ctcg, against the agates until a groove is worn therein to the extent desired. The

disks are then stopped and the tank 9A lowered, whereupon the segmental holders 17 andlhe agates are removed. Should the power be applied to the pulley 9 longer than necessary, it will do no harm provided the spacers of the desired size have been pressed upon the pinsll for the extra rotations of the'pulley 9 owmg to the slipping of the loosened belt will be made without turning the cutting and agate holding disks sufli- -iently to materially deepen the groovesin the agates.

it will beunderstood that the shape of the 3 understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the subjoined claims. p

Having describedmy invention, I claim: 1.1na machine of the character de scribed, a rotatable member adapted to carry the material to be grooved, a member having a cutting edge, andwmeans for automatically holding the cutting edgein engagement with the material when desired.

b-ll scribed, a rotatable member adapted to carry the material to be grooved, a rotatable member 'havlng a cutting edge, and means for automatically"holding the cutting edge inengagement with the materialwhen desired.

In a machine of the character described, a rotatable member adapted to carry the material to be grooved, a rotatable memher having a cutting edge, and means for automatically adjusting one of said members toward the other to maintain the contact of the cutting edge and material, means forgrooved and the cutting edge, means for maintaining the contact of the edge and material, and means for preventing further cutting of the material after aidesired depth of groove is cut. I l j 5. In a machine ofthe character described, a pair of rotatable disks adapted respectively to carry the material to be grooved and the cutting edge, means for adjusting one of said disks toward the other to effect contact between the material and cutting edge, and means for restraining further cutting after a desired depth of groove is cut.

6. In a machine of the character described, a pair of rotatable horizontally-disposed disks adapted respectively to carry the material to be grooved and the cutting edge, and means for adjusting said disks toward each other to maintain the engagement of the material and cutting edge as long as desired. Y

7. In a machine of the character described,

a pair of rotatable horizontally-disposed disks adapted respectively to carry the material to be grooved and the cutting edge, means for adjusting one of said disks toward the other to effect contact between the material and cutting edge, and means for restraining further cutting after a desired depth of groove is cut.

S. In a machine of the character described, a pair of horizontally-disposed rotatable disks adapted respectively to carry the material to be grooved and the cutting edge, and means for effecting a horizontal movement of one of said disks to maintain engagement between the cutting edge and material until a predetermined depth of groove is cut.

9. In a machine of the character described, a pa r of hor z nta yp sed rotata e In a machine ofthe character dedisks adapted respectively to carry the material'to be grooved and the cutting edge,

means for effecting a horizontal movement of one of said disks to maintain engage ment between the cutting edge and material until a predetermined depth of groove is cut, and means for automatically terminating relative movement of the cutting edge and material. 7

10. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable disk adapted to carry the material to'be grooved, a vertically -disposed shaft on which said disk is mounted, a second shaft arranged parallel with the first mentioned shaft, a disk mounted thereon and bearing a cutting edge, and means for moving one of said shafts toward the 11. In a machine of [the character described, a rotatable disk adapted to carry the material to be grooved, a vertically-disposed shaft on which said disk is mounted,

.a-second shaft arranged parallel with the first-mentioned shaft, a disk mounted thereon and bearing a cutt ng edge, a swlnglng bracket arm adapted to support one of said shafts, and means for swinging the bracket arm to bring one disk toward the other to effect contactbetween the material and cut-- ting edge.

12. In a machine of the character de scribed, a rotatable disk adapted to carry the material to be grooved, a vertically-disposed shaft on which said disk is mounted, a second shaft arranged parallel with, the first-mentioned shaft, a disk mounted therevother to effect engagement between the cut- 7 ting edge and material.

on and bearing a cutting edge, a swinging bracket arm adapted to support one of said shafts, means for swinging the bracket arm to bring one disk toward the other to effect contact between the material and cutting edge, and means for terminating turning movement of the shafts after a desired depth of groove is cut.

13. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable disk adapted to carry the material to be grooved, avertically-dis- I posed shaft on which said disk is mounted, a second shaft arranged parallel with the firstmentioned shaft, a disk mounted thereon and bearing a cutting edge, a. swinging bracket arm adapted to support one of said shafts, and gravity acting means for swinging the bracket arm to bring one disk toward the other to effect contact between the material and cutting edge.

let. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable disk adapted to carry the material to be grooved, a vertieally-disposed shaft on which said disk is mounted, a second shaft arranged parallel with the firstmentioned shaft, a disk mounted thereon and bearing a cutting edge, a swinging bracket arm adapted to support one of said shafts, gravity acting means for swinging the bracket arm to bring one disk toward the other toefi'ect contact between the ma.

scribed, a vessel adapted to contain an,

abrasive solution, a pair of rotatable mema bers adapted respectively to carry the material to be grooved and the cutting edge, and means for raising or lowering the vessel to immerse or free said rotatable members ifrom the abrasive solution.

16. In a machine of the character described, a pair of horizontally-mounted rotatable disks adapted respectively to carry the material toibe grooved and the cutting edge, a tank adapted to contain an abrasive solution, and means for elevating or lowering the tank to immerse the disks in said solution when desired.

17. In a machine of the character described, a disk adapted to carry the material to be cut, and comprising a segmental holding means to which the material is temporarily secured.

18. In a machine of the character described, a disk adapted to carry the material to be cut, and comprising a plurality of segments each of which is adapted to carry portions of the material to be grooved, and means for securing the segments in position on the disk. v i

19. In a machine forgrooving agates or the like, a disk adapted to carry the agates to be grooved, and comprising segments each of whichcarries a plurality of agates, and

means for securing the segments upon the disk. 7

20. Ina machine for grooving agates or the like, a disk adapted to carry the agates to be grooved, and comprising recessed segments each of which is adapted to have a plurality of agates secured therein, and means for securing the segments upon the disk. v 21. In a machine for grooving agates or the like, a disk adapted to carry the agates to be grooved, and comprising recessed segments each of which is arranged to support a plurality of a ates adjacent its recessed portion, means or temporarily fixing the agates in position upon the segments, and

means for clamping the segments upon the cis ORWELL C. REEVES.

Witnesses: I

I. A. CROWLEY, Gnome ,FRYE. 

